The bookstore chain Borders filed for bankruptcy protection this morning.

The Evanston Borders store. (Mike Perlman photo)

A list published by the New York Times showed the Borders Evanston store, a major anchor of the Church Street Plaza development downtown, as one of about 200 stores the chain plans to close as it seeks to reorganize under bankruptcy court protection.

Update 11:25 a.m.: Bruce Reid, executive vice president of Arthur Hill & Company, which operates the plaza, said he was aware of the bankruptcy filing, but had not received word from Borders about the possible closure of the Evanston store.

“Borders has always been an exemplary tenant in terms of communication,” Reid said, “so I’m sure if it is closing, we’ll be hearing from them quite soon.”

He declined comment on possible future plans for the 22,000 square foot space.

In the Chicago metro area as a whole, Borders is planning to close 15 of its 31 stores.

Related link

Borders store closing list from Wall Street Journal.

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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